Rico J. Puno - Beyond Showbusiness Boundaries

Beyond Showbusiness Boundaries

From 1986 to 1987, Puno had a noontime variety show, "Lunch Date" over GMA-7. In 1994-1995 he headlined Chibugan Na (It's Eating Time), aired on weekdays at 12 noon on RPN 9, with Hajji Alejandro.

Puno returned as TV host for "Macho Guwapito" on the now-defunct Makisig Network. He was one of the judges in the inaugural week of the reality talent show Showtime on ABS-CBN.

Puno is also the owner of the karaoke bar, Coriks, at Vito Cruz Extension, Manila. He also manages a trucking business.

He won a seat in the Makati City Council from the first district from 1998. Among Puno's notable ordinances filed during his first term was the installation of a surveillance camera in every convenience store in Makati that operates 24 hours a day, as protection against robbers who prey on convenience stores. He left the city council after his third and final consecutive term ended in 2007. His seat in the city council was kept by his eldest daughter, Tosca Camille. Three years later, he teamed up with Jun-Jun Binay to run for city vice mayor in Makati City. Although Binay won the mayoralty race, Puno lost to Barangay Valenzuela captain Romulo Pena, Jr., who was the running mate of then-outgoing vice mayor Ernesto Mercado.